Rugby League News | Raidercast

Thu, 28th May, 2026, 9:02 AEST
Blues debutant shines, Walker pick of Maroons: Zero Tackle's State of Origin MVP, Game 1
Ethan Strange shone in Game 1 of the 2026 State of Origin, leading the MVP race with three man-of-the-match votes.
Zero Tackle
Ethan Strange has been named the clear standout of the opening game in the 2026 State of Origin series, taking the early lead of our MVP race.
Strange was voted man of the match by three of the four judges, with James Tedesco winning the top spot for the other list of five players.
Nathan Cleary and Sam Walker were the only other two players to feature across all four lists, and as a result, they sit in second and third overall.
Selwyn Cobbo, Cameron Murray, Cameron Munster, Victor Radley and Hudson Young were the other players to feature for at least one judge in the comeback win for the Blues.
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Thu, 28th May, 2026, 8:16 AEST
Daley delivers early verdict on possible Game 2 changes
Laurie Daley hints Mitchell Moses may return for Origin 2, despite Ethan Strange's impressive debut performance for the Blues.
Zero Tackle
New South Wales Blues head coach Laurie Daley has suggested Mitchell Moses is a strong chance of returning to the state's set up for Origin 2, despite Ethan Strange's barnstorming debut performance on Wednesday evening.
Strange, who was among the best for the Blues, who required an enormous comeback against the Maroons, who were reduced to 12 men in the final 20 minutes, appeared to be made for Origin.
But he has no guarantee of retaining his spot.
Mitchell Moses had originally been picked in the number six jumper, only to be kept out of the side by a minor hamstring injury, with Strange promoted to start, and Matt Burton added to the pine.
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Thu, 28th May, 2026, 7:28 AEST
Cleary "narrative" trashed after stunning end to Origin 1
NSW coach and captain defend Nathan Cleary's big-game performance after his key role in the Blues' Origin victory.
Zero Tackle
NSW Blues head coach Laurie Daley and captain Isaah Yeo have moved to end the narrative that Nathan Cleary isn't a big-game player.
One of the key questions on the lips leading into Game 1 was whether Cleary could finally live up to his potential in a sky blue jumper.
It has been a widely held criticism of Cleary throughout his career; however, after piloting the kicking game to keep his team alive over the opening hour of the contest, he and rookie Ethan Strange paved the way for the Blues to run on three tries in the final 20 minutes against a 12-man Queensland to secure victory on home soil in the Origin opener.
The Blues might not have been at their best early, but it certainly wasn't Cleary's fault, and Yeo said the end of the game, with Cleary kicking a contest-turning 40/20 and following it up with a try, didn't come as a surprise to him.
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Thu, 28th May, 2026, 1:36 AEST
New talent outweighs old habits in Blues triumph
Ethan Strange led NSW to a thrilling 22-20 comeback win against Queensland in the State of Origin opener, overcoming early 20-0 deficit.
The Canberra Times
Just when NSW's old habits looked set to bring them undone, a bright new wave of talent turned the tide and the complexion of the 2026 State of Origin series.
The Blues are 1-0 up in the best-of-three series following a heroic come-from-behind 22-20 win in the Origin opener at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.
But NSW were on the ropes after 20 minutes, down 20-0 thanks to their own yardage errors and some brilliance from Maroons rookie Sam Walker.
When Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow waltzed in for Queensland's third try, the Blues were completing at 57 per cent and had not yet played the ball in the visitor's red zone.
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Thu, 28th May, 2026, 0:06 AEST
Cleary, Tedesco fire NSW to classic Origin comeback win
NSW staged a historic comeback to defeat Queensland 22-20 in State of Origin, led by Nathan Cleary, debutant Ethan Strange, and James Tedesco's late try.
The Canberra Times
Laurie Daley is saluting his NSW heroes after Nathan Cleary, fearless debutant Ethan Strange and grand old master James Tedesco sparked the Blues to the biggest comeback win in State of Origin history.
A 78th-minute try to the returning Tedesco helped the Blues to a gripping 22-20 home victory Wednesday night after Queensland's superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off by referee Ashley Klein for a shoulder charge on Tolu Koula.
Ponga's moment of madness handed NSW an avenue back into the contest when the Maroons were leading 20-6 with 58 minutes gone and stunned fans unusually silent at Accor Stadium.
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